First Trump ally pleads NOT GUILTY in Georgia: Ex-president’s attorney Ray Smith denies trying to overturn the state’s election results
First Trump ally pleads NOT GUILTY in Georgia: Ex-president’s attorney Ray Smith denies trying to overturn the state’s election results
- Trump attorney Ray Smith entered a not guilty plea in Fulton County on Monday
- The written plea allows Smith to avoid an on-camera arraignment on Sept. 6
- It is the first not guilty plea in the case of Georgia election subversion
One of Donald Trump’s 18 co-defendants became the first to plead not guilty in Georgia court on Monday, meaning he will be able to avoid doing so in front of cameras on September 6.
Georgia-based attorney Ray Smith, who worked for Trump, entered in writing his denial of wrongdoing in the election meddling case and waived his arraignment.
The rest of the co-defendants, including former President Trump, are scheduled to be arraigned next Wednesday in-person in Fulton County, Georgia after they were required to turn themselves over for bookings by noon on Friday, August 25.
The booking resulted in the first mugshot of Trump despite three previous indictments before the latest for his efforts to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Smith surrendered to authorities at Fulton County jail on August 23 and was released on $50,000 bond.
attorney Ray Smith entered in-writing a not guilty plea in the Fulton County election meddling case as one of Donald Trump’s 18 co-defendants. He will now avoid an on-camera arraignment on September 6″ class=”blkBorder img-share” style=”max-width:100%” />
Georgia-based attorney Ray Smith entered in-writing a not guilty plea in the Fulton County election meddling case as one of Donald Trump’s 18 co-defendants. He will now avoid an on-camera arraignment on September 6
Judge Steve Jones has already approved cameras in the courtroom for the arraignments on September 6, meaning the proceedings are able to be televised.
By Smith entering his not guilty plea in writing, he is able to avoid an on-camera arraignment.
‘It is counsel’s understanding that by filing this waiver of arraignment, prior to the arraignment date, that Mr. Smith and undersigned counsel are executed from appearing at the arraignment calendar on September 6, 2023,’ the Georgia lawyer’s attorney wrote.
There are sure to be other in-writing not guilty pleas to follow.
Smith currently faces 12 counts in the indictment, including part of the racketeering charge claiming there was a conspiracy involving several crimes to null President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the Peach State.
Three counts are on soliciting a public officer to violate their oath of office and two are for making false statements. Six others relate to the scheme to submit fake electors, which includes counts on forgery and conspiracy.
Several of the counts against Smith involved his participation in Georgia legislative hearings where he and other attorneys sought to convince state lawmakers of mass election fraud.
During the proceedings, Smith spoke to lawmakers and questioned witnesses on Trump’s team.
The 41-count indictment against Trump and the 18 co-defendants was handed down earlier this month by Fulton County District attorney Fani Willis.
Trump and 18 allies were faced earlier this month with a flurry of charges regarding the conspiracy to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Florida
Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows (pictured) arrived at the Fulton County courthouse on Monday morning to take the witness stand in a bid to move his 2020 election subversion case out of Georgia and to federal court
Trump’s last White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows requested on Monday that his case be moved from Georgia to the federal level so he would receive a more representative jury pool. He argued during testimony that all of his actions were taken while under direction of the President and in his official capacity as the top White House aide.
Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and former Georgia State Senator and GOP Chair David Shafer are also seeking that their cases are moved to federal court.
Judge Jones heard arguments for Meadows on Monday and scheduled a September 18 hearing to discuss Clark’s request to move his case to federal court.
Jones did not issue a ruling Monday on Meadows’ effort.
Other co-defendants include former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Disney Powell and Jenna Ellis.
Trump and all 18 others were charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, among other offenses.
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